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Juno [2007] | | |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Somewhere between the sharp satire of Election and the rich human comedy of You Can Count On Me lies Juno, a sardonic but ultimately compassionate story of a pregnant teenage girl who wants to give her baby up for adoption. Social misfit Juno (Ellen Page, Hard Candy, X-Men: The Last Stand) protects herself with a caustic wit, but when she gets pregnant by her friend Paulie (Michael Cera, Superbad), Juno finds herself unwilling to terminate the pregnancy. When she chooses a couple who place a classified ad looking to adopt, Juno gets drawn further into their lives than she anticipated. But Juno is much more than its plot; the stylised dialogue (by screenwriter Diablo Cody) seems forced at first, but soon creates a richly textured world, greatly aided by superb performances by Page, Cera, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the prospective parents, and J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man) and Allison Janney as Juno's father and stepmother. Director Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) deftly keeps the movie from slipping into easy, shallow sarcasm or foundering in sentimentality. The result is smarter and funnier than you might expect from the subject matter, and warmer and more touching than you might expect from the cocky attitude. Page's performance is deceptively simple; she never asks the audience to love her, yet she effortlessly carries a movie in which she's in almost every scene. That's star power. -- Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Bit Like Marmite... June 12, 2008
Just Joe (Isle of Man)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
I s'pose you either love it, or you don't - a bit like Marmite. I am a lover of both Marmite and "Juno".
It's true - its a feel-good, teen-flick with happy music and a simple yet touching story line. But whats wrong with that? Why do all films need to be serious, violent or action-packed? That was one of the major criticisms that this film suffered from in the reviews after it first came out, but lets be honest - sometimes its nice to just watch a film that makes you feel happy, and reinforces the fact that that the world isn't all death and destruction.
This is one of those films, and I love it, and highly recommend it to anyone who wants their faith restored in humanity, or just a good reason to sit down with a big cup of coffee or a tub of ice cream for a couple of hours and watch a great movie.
 It started in a chair June 10, 2008
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
16 out of 21 found this review helpful
Let's face it -- teen pregnancy is an ongoing problem, and is not something admirable or funny. But I have to admit, the way you handle it can be.
That seems to be the goal of "Juno," a relentlessly quirky, cracking-wise little comedy about a girl who makes a dumb mistake, and the smart decisions she has to make after that. While it initially seems rather precious, the Wes Andersonesque scriptings hide a bittersweet, warm little story about responsibility and love.
After a lot of Sunny D and three pregnancy tests, Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) comes to the inevitable conclusion: she's pregnant by her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera).
Because she "heard in health class that pregnancy often results in an infant," Juno initially goes in for an abortion, but ends up running out of the clinic. Instead, she's going to have the baby and give it to someone who wants one, but can't have it. So she reluctantly fesses up to her parents, and starts scouting ads for suitably (if unedgy) parents for her baby -- the wealthy Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner).
Mark and Juno form a bond over their shared tastes, but she starts to suspect that not all is well in Yuppieland -- especially when Mark decides to break up with Vanessa, because fatherhood would force him to be a grown-up, not a rock god. As her due date approaches, Juno must decide what is best for herself, Vanessa, the baby... and just maybe, the adoring Paulie.
Recliners on the lawn, cactus-grams, guitars with names and "The Wizard of Gore" -- it's pretty obvious that "Juno" will win prizes for kooky quirk, if nothing else. It certainly has that in spades, and while it has some awkwardly scripted moments, the colourful and acerbic portrait of a teenage girl having to make some heavy adult decisions is definitely a winning one.
Admittedly, "Juno" is a bit too precious in the first few scenes, when we have a weird store clerk saying things like "Your eggo is preggo" and getting replies like "Silencio!" Come on, loosen up and stop trying to be cooler-than-thou.
But as the pregnancy storyline really kicks in, "Juno" settles into a storyline that is equal parts quirky-funny and touching. Jason Reitman flavours the whole plot with his snappy, clever direction with plenty of acid-laced voiceovers from Juno, on the world around her. And Diablo Cody's dialogue ranges from deliciously sharp ("I'm not crying, I'm just allergic to fine home furnishing") to entertainingly over-the-top ("Phuket, Thailand!").
But as witty and quirky as the plot is, it wouldn't be much if it didn't also have a heart. As the movie winds on, we get to see Juno maturing -- learning to weigh coolness vs. maturity, appreciate her family, and what is right for her baby and the Lorings -- the scene where Juno helps an upset Vanessa talk to her baby is adorable. Not to mention that our pregnant heroine has to figure out whether true love is staring her in the face.
Ellen Page gives a note-perfect performance -- her Juno is funny, sassy, wise beyond her years, and profoundly unconventional ("Thundercats are go!"). Cera is equally good in a more subdued, lovably dorky role; it's pretty hard not to love Paulie just for being himself. And Garner and Bateman are wonderful too, as an uptight, lonely woman who desperately wants a baby, and a Peter Pan type who doesn't want to act like a grown-up. Bleah, who needs him?
"Juno" has its flaws -- moments of excessive preciousness -- but it has plenty of heart, wicked dialogue, and excellent acting. Call it a Cautionary Whale.
A Window into her Thoughts June 11, 2008
Bentley (USA and England)
12 out of 17 found this review helpful
I read somewhere that in ancient times, a woman's soul or a window into her thoughts was called "juno". There was also a separate masculine word for the same thing.
The movie JUNO seems to give us a glimpse or a window into the thoughts and soul of our young 16 year old protagonist. In fact, in the movie, Juno discusses how her father was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology at the time she was born.
As a movie viewer, I have to admit that I felt that I was indeed looking into the mind, soul and heart of this young girl who faces a pregnancy she wasn't counting on. Ellen Page does a tremendous job with the lead character of Juno MacGuff. There are moments when the language is a bit quirky like some other reviewers noticed; but you overcome this because of the depth and the soul of the performances. Michael Cera is magnificent as Paulie and is perfectly lovable in his portrayal of the ill prepared, ill equipped young father.
Though I loved Cera's and Page's performances, the movie does deal with teen age pregnancy, discussion of abortion, has some sexual scenes and some other segments which a parent may or may not want their family to view. I believe in fairness to the film that all of the above was handled incredibly well.
Despite the above and maybe because of the expert handling of some very sensitive subjects, Jason Reitman hits a home run with his second feature film. It is a stunner and definately the standout that critics say it is. Deserving a lot of the credit is Diablo Cody who really is the creative mind behind the story itself.
Recommended as a wonky, dorky, quirky experience of family values both good and bad. B++
 What's more annoying than a wasp in a spacesuit ? Juno of course. April 21, 2008
Dyspeptic Spirit (Sunny Berkshire)
11 out of 29 found this review helpful
Jeez am I the only one who found this film intensely annoying. Sure the lead actress is cute (which I would guess wins a lot of male votes) but she is just so annoying that I kept having fantasies about pummeling her to an early grave with a large wet mackerel.
The music is dreadful, the script too clever for its own good and you say it was a comedy? Jeez I must check that word in the dictionary...
No sixteen old girl is that confident, that uncomplicated to act in this way. It made no sense and was ultimately just rather dull.
So why 2 stars. Well as I said she was quite cute....
a shame July 4, 2008
Stampy (England)
7 out of 13 found this review helpful
Ellen Page (Hard candy) stars as Juno, a teenager who falls pregnant and doesn't want the baby for herself.
In all its hype and being a huge fan of the drama genre and J.K Simmons (Spiderman) I was really looking forward to this. I had a reasonable day at work and sat down ready to be enticed into the trauma of a young girl with a load on her shoulders, but in a way, this Oscar nominated picture kind of strayed from her emotions in the first hour, which I felt was a big mistake. A 16 year old who is carrying a baby that belongs to the love of her life who has suddenly gone cold on her, and she isn't bothered by this massive burden ahead of her? Ok a rough past may have made her grow up, but still some emotion at the beginning would have given the character a more realistic and interesting image. Page's Oscar nominated performance was ok in my personal opinion, though I have never seen her in anything else before, but her character was really annoying.
I had read a few reviews to, all claiming that it was a funny film, but I must have smiled once throughout, as the actions and dialogue had my eyebrows firmly placed at the top of my head in confusion.
I felt the first hour was really poor, with a stereotype running the show, questionable dialogue, and sometimes bizarre direction. The acting is good, from everyone. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman are good, but don't match up to J.K Simmons who is terrific, as is Michael Cera.
However, despite all the faults in the first hour, there is a great realistic last half an hour with tensions running high and changes in proceedings, finally giving the film an edge and an interest to keep me watching to the end. One scene actually made me feel sorry for Juno.
Despite its faults in direction, humour and characters, the film still conforms to the genre and has a really good last half an hour, but given the tension and excitement I had heard and read leading up to it, it was a real let down.
5/10
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